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Rafa Benitez has demanded Newcastle United make an improved bid for Norwich City winger Jacob Murphy as he grows increasingly irritated by managing director Lee Charnley’s failure to sign his transfer targets.

Norwich are reluctant to sell the England Under-21 international and have already turned down a bid of around £8m from the Magpies, but an exasperated Benitez wants to test their resolve with a larger offer.

Murphy caught the eye of Benitez when Newcastle played Norwich in the Championship last season and he was also scouted by the club’s new head of recruitment, Steve Nickson, in Poland.

Benitez wants the Newcastle hierarchy to start backing up the promises made to him earlier this summer with deeds and feels it is time for them to start flexing their financial muscle in the transfer market after weeks of haggling – and missing out - on deals.

Newcastle are also continuing to monitor Adama Traore situation at Middlesbrough, although they believe their North-East neighbours have set an unrealistic asking price for the former Barcelona and Aston Villa winger.

Boro are believed to have quoted a fee of more than £10m for a player they signed for a small fraction of that sum 12 months ago.

The relationship between Benitez and Charnley has become increasingly strained this summer and Newcastle’s manager cannot understand why there has not been more success in recruitment given he was promised “every penny” of the extra income generated by promotion back to the Premier League by the club’s owner, Mike Ashley.

Benitez has grown frustrated at a lack of business at St James' Park since promotion was confirmedCredit:
Rex Features

Although Newcastle have turned Christian Atsu’s loan from Chelsea into a permanent move, their only other signing so far in this transfer window is the French centre-back, Florian Lejeune, who signed from Spanish club Eibar.

However, even that deal took far longer that it should as the player had a release clause in his contract.

The problem for Benitez is that the transfer market is highly inflated with some ridiculous prices being quoted and those above him at St James’ Park believe they will get better value for money later in the window.

The presence of Justin Barnes, an abrasive lieutenant of Ashley, is also a complicating factor as he in charge of the club’s finances.